Just ahead of Christmas, we paid a visit to Care for Veterans in Worthing, one of the charities we proudly support. We were delighted to re-connect in person with residents who became our supporters and friends, as well as hear their personal accounts of being a soldier at war.
Our Case Studies Liaison Officer – Helen McMahon – had the pleasure of talking with Len and Steve, both veterans whose lives have been impacted by disability. Arriving at the residential home in Worthing meant both Len and Steve could benefit from rehabilitation and the extra care they needed to enable them to retain their independence and dignity.
World War Two veteran Len, now in his nineties, took part in the Normandy landing and Operation Market Garden. Joining the Royal Army Service Corps as a motorcycle despatch rider at 20 years old in 1944, he experienced many extraordinary moments in his service. Read Len’s full story here.
Former Royal Engineers Warrant Officer Steve toured in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. After returning from his second tour in Afghanistan, he was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident, which resulted in a severe brain injury. He arrived at Care For Veterans where a wide range of rehabilitation programmes were available to him that made a positive impact on his recovery. Read Steve’s full story here.
We were also very fortunate to hear from Ted, another World War Two veteran who served in the Royal Engineers, initially as a Sapper waterman. He saw action at Battle of Narvik and D-Day. His remarkable accounts as a soldier during the Second World War include extraordinary tales of how he avoided several fatal situations through sheer luck. Read Ted’s full story here.
Visiting Care For Veterans provided us with a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand the impact of our support and to hear the remarkable recollections on war time from its residents.
On the behalf of everyone from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, we wish all residents and staff at Care for Veterans, as well as all other partner charities we proudly support, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.